There are various types of help paying for childcare available such as:

• Early Education & Childcare (EEC) childcare for 2 year olds (if eligible)
• Early Education & Childcare (EEC) or Extended Free Entitlement (EFE) for 3 & 4 year olds
• Tax Credits
• Universal Credit
• Childcare vouchers
• Help while you study

You can get help paying for childcare if it’s provided by a:

• registered childminder, playscheme, nursery or club
• childminder with an OFSTED-registered childminding agency
• registered school
• home careworker working for a registered home care agency
• Childcare provided by relatives - you can only get help paying for childcare by a relative for example a grandparent, if they are a registered childminder and caring for your child outside your home. You can’t claim for childcare provided by your partner

Please note: Relatives providing childcare can not deliver EEC or EFE funded childcare places.

These are known as ‘approved childcare’ , you can find out if a childcare provider is approved by checking the OFSTED website, or by clicking here

Use the childcare calculator to work out what help you could get with childcare costs or click here